--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We were lower middle class and my parents…" description: "\"We were lower middle class and my parents really wanted me to have an education and have a real job and not just 'this show biz stuff.'\" — Leslie Uggams" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f48/leslie-uggams-6290_class_we-were-lower-middle-class-and-my-parent_2003708.jpg" --- # We were lower middle class and my parents really wanted me… ![“We were lower middle class and my parents really wanted me to have an education and have a real job and not just 'this show biz stuff.'” quote by Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f48/leslie-uggams-6290_class_we-were-lower-middle-class-and-my-parent_2003708.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f48/leslie-uggams-6290_class_we-were-lower-middle-class-and-my-parent_2003708.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f48/leslie-uggams-6290_class_we-were-lower-middle-class-and-my-parent_2003708.jpg) > “We were lower middle class and my parents really wanted me to have an education and have a real job and not just 'this show biz stuff.'” [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A parent’s desire for stable, conventional success clashes with artistic ambition. **In simple terms:** Parents want security, child seeks creative career. Key Takeaway Balance expectations with personal passion. Themes family expectations career choice artistic ambition Mood reflective determined Type advice personal growth When to use this quote - career planning - family discussions - educational decisions Key Concepts social pressure identity formation Questions to Reflect On - How can you honor family values while pursuing art? - What compromises are acceptable? A Different Perspective May limit creative freedom if expectations dominate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Education Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education-real-1347906/) [Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job/) [Middle class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-class/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) [Parents Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents-really/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-job/) [Wanted Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-education-758372/) ## Related quotes > [I think that with some education there are real possibilities at the high school and college level, but more so at the college level,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-armstrong/i-think-that-with-some-education-there-are-real-possibilities-at-the/) [Kristin Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-armstrong/) > [Ultimately, education in its real sense is the pursuit of truth. It is an endless journey through knowledge and enlightenment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-p-j-abdul-kalam/ultimately-education-in-its-real-sense-is-the-pursuit-of-truth-it-is/) [A. P. J. Abdul Kalam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-p-j-abdul-kalam/) > [Maths is fundamentally a different process in education than it is in the real world. There is an insistence that we do maths by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conrad-wolfram/maths-is-fundamentally-a-different-process-in-education-than-it-is-in/) [Conrad Wolfram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conrad-wolfram/) > [I tell young people to prepare themselves as best they can for a world that grows more challenging every day-get the best education they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-bond/i-tell-young-people-to-prepare-themselves-as-best-they-can-for-a/) [Julian Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-bond/) > [“There should be a class on sex education, a real sex-education class. There should be a class on police brutality. There should be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/there-should-be-a-class-on-sex-education-a-real-sex-education-class/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [State educators have confused the length of formal education with real-life skills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-raab/state-educators-have-confused-the-length-of-formal-education-with/) [Dominic Raab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-raab/) > [Man has got to take charge of Man… Then real education, including pre-natal education. By real education I mean one that has no 'take-it-or-leave-it'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/man-has-got-to-take-charge-of-man-then-real-education-including-pre/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [I've always wanted to get an education, and tonight's as good a time as any](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burt-lancaster/i-ve-always-wanted-to-get-an-education-and-tonight-s-as-good-a-time/) [Burt Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burt-lancaster/) > [When I was in high school in Paris, some photographers wanted my photos and asked if I was interested in modeling. I wasn't interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khoudia-diop/when-i-was-in-high-school-in-paris-some-photographers-wanted-my/) [Khoudia Diop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khoudia-diop/) > [But I decided I wanted more education and I had to make a choice between starting law school, which was interesting to me, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-evans/but-i-decided-i-wanted-more-education-and-i-had-to-make-a-choice/) [Daniel J. Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-evans/) > [I wasn't going to great schools, because my parents didn't believe in public education. They wanted the education to be influenced by their religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-perry/i-wasn-t-going-to-great-schools-because-my-parents-didn-t-believe-in/) [Katy Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-perry/) > [I went into the military because I wanted to get an education, not because I wanted to fight anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-murphy/i-went-into-the-military-because-i-wanted-to-get-an-education-not/) [Charlie Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-murphy/) > [“My grandmother wanted me to have an education, so she kept me out of school.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/my-grandmother-wanted-me-to-have-an-education-so-she-kept-me-out-of/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [“I needed to wander… whenever and wherever I wanted! I’d found myself at the end of my rope as far as school was concerned;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/i-needed-to-wander-whenever-and-wherever-i-wanted-i-d-found-myself-at/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [I just wanted to have an education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apl-de-ap/i-just-wanted-to-have-an-education/) [apl.de.ap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apl-de-ap/) ## More by Leslie Uggams > [I'm all over YouTube.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/i-m-all-over-youtube/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) > [My career has been a series of breaking through barriers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/my-career-has-been-a-series-of-breaking-through-barriers/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) > [I was supposedly named after the Bette Davis character in 'The Letter' by my sister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/i-was-supposedly-named-after-the-bette-davis-character-in-the-letter/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) > [Anything can happen in theater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/anything-can-happen-in-theater/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) > [I just love 'Happy.' I have a little grand baby who loves that song. We'll play it and dance around. Pharrell's conveyed a feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/i-just-love-happy-i-have-a-little-grand-baby-who-loves-that-song-we/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) > [My Aunt Eloise Uggams was my first inspiration. She performed on Broadway, and when I was 10 years old, I saw her in 'Porgy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/my-aunt-eloise-uggams-was-my-first-inspiration-she-performed-on/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) > [Oh, I love Lady Gaga - I think she's so fascinating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/oh-i-love-lady-gaga-i-think-she-s-so-fascinating/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) > [Blues and jazz is our American music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/blues-and-jazz-is-our-american-music/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) > [It's kind of nice to be acknowledged, and that people think enough of you that they want to give you something. So I appreciate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/it-s-kind-of-nice-to-be-acknowledged-and-that-people-think-enough-of/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) > [I do so many things it has a tendency to confuse people. They didn't know where to put me. So they put me nowhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/i-do-so-many-things-it-has-a-tendency-to-confuse-people-they-didn-t/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) > [Black theaters are not given nearly enough attention. We need these theaters to be aware of each other, to help each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/black-theaters-are-not-given-nearly-enough-attention-we-need-these/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) > [Fresh air, sunshine, exercise, and a change of scenery can be very refreshing and just the lift you need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/fresh-air-sunshine-exercise-and-a-change-of-scenery-can-be-very/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) > [I respect the gift I was given so I take care of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/i-respect-the-gift-i-was-given-so-i-take-care-of-it/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) > [Since I turned 18, I have never missed a vote for president. If you don't vote, you don't get the right to complain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/since-i-turned-18-i-have-never-missed-a-vote-for-president-if-you-don/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) > [We need more Black artists writing, performing, directing, and producing Black stories on the main stage - and not just in February!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/we-need-more-black-artists-writing-performing-directing-and-producing/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) [Explore all 99 Leslie Uggams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) ## More Class quotes > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [If I had to guess and put a name on it, I'd say that at some point, the drug war was as much a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/if-i-had-to-guess-and-put-a-name-on-it-i-d-say-that-at-some-point-the/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [I grew up in the middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-scaramucci/i-grew-up-in-the-middle-class/) [Anthony Scaramucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-scaramucci/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [You’re crazy,” said her best friend, Angela, as the bell rang to signal five minutes before the first class on the first day back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/you-re-crazy-said-her-best-friend-angela-as-the-bell-rang-to-signal/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [“Poor people do not go on holiday; they go home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/poor-people-do-not-go-on-holiday-they-go-home/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/because-there-are-three-classes-of-intellects-one-which-comprehends/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Right now, for many Americans, class is being foregrounded like never before because of the economic situation. It doesn't mean that race doesn't matter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/right-now-for-many-americans-class-is-being-foregrounded-like-never/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [But I don't think the Democratic Party is at eye level with the middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-i-don-t-think-the-democratic-party-is-at-eye-level-with-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not a dancer. Never took a dance class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrishell-stause/i-m-not-a-dancer-never-took-a-dance-class/) [Chrishell Stause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrishell-stause/) > [Most startups are not just built for the person who is using them. When you do that, every now and then you get really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmett-shear/most-startups-are-not-just-built-for-the-person-who-is-using-them/) [Emmett Shear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmett-shear/) > [The structure of the Swiss ruling class is rock-hard, and unchanged since the time of Napoleon. They sit on their mountains and lecture the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-ziegler/the-structure-of-the-swiss-ruling-class-is-rock-hard-and-unchanged/) [Jean Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-ziegler/) > [We are not going back to the failed policies of the past. We are fighting for the middle class!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/we-are-not-going-back-to-the-failed-policies-of-the-past-we-are/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) [Browse all 7,637 Class quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We were lower middle class and my parents really wanted me to have an education and have a real job and not just 'this show biz stuff.'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Leslie Uggams" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/we-were-lower-middle-class-and-my-parents-really-wanted-me-to-have-an/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Class" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/we-were-lower-middle-class-and-my-parents-really-wanted-me-to-have-an/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f48/leslie-uggams-6290_class_we-were-lower-middle-class-and-my-parent_2003708.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f48/leslie-uggams-6290_class_we-were-lower-middle-class-and-my-parent_2003708.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f48/leslie-uggams-6290_class_we-were-lower-middle-class-and-my-parent_2003708.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We were lower middle class and my parents really wanted me to have an education and have a real job and not…” — Leslie Uggams", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Leslie Uggams", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We were lower middle class and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/we-were-lower-middle-class-and-my-parents-really-wanted-me-to-have-an/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/we-were-lower-middle-class-and-my-parents-really-wanted-me-to-have-an/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```